The EU's SYNERGY programme supports cooperative projects in the energy sector involving partners from within and outside the EU. The Commission has published a call for proposals for projects to be launched in 1999 under the programme. These projects should aim to further energy policy in areas of mutual interest and promote industrial cooperation between the EU and non-member countries.

Proposals for projects, which may receive EU funding of up to 50% of the costs (or not more than ECU 200,000), may be submitted for actions in the following fields:

It should be noted that energy-related investment and infrastructure financing at any stage, and research, demonstration, development or innovative technology dissemination projects cannot be supported under the SYNERGY programme.

Priorities for the following regions have been set out by the Commission under the SYNERGY programme: Central and Eastern European countries, New Independent States of the former Soviet Union, India and China, the rest of Asia, Latin America, Africa the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP countries), and the Mediterranean region.

The funding of projects submitted in response to the present call for proposals is dependent on the SYNERGY programme being formally extended for the year 1999.